Samoa's Education Minister gets more time to respond to allegations

Samoa's Minister of Education has been given more time to respond to bribery and treating allegations following last month's election.

Magele Mauiliu Magele has been granted an extension to file counter claim affidavits in response to an election petition brought against him by one of Tautua Samoa's unsuccessful candidates Pauli Pipi Tevita.

But the education minister has lost a chance to file a counter claim because the period set for filing a claim has expired.

Meanwhile, the evidence in the petition against the Tautua Samoa party leader, Vaai Papu Vailupe, has been presented and the court is expected to deliver a decision soon.